T1-11 Siding Repair
T1-11 siding is a manufactured siding that is popular because of its cost and ease of installation. T1-11 typically comes in 4×8 feet sections (other sizes are available). The siding is designed to lap together to give a seamless board and batten look. Real T1-11 siding is plywood, but there are hardboard products that look like T1-11, so establish what type of material you are working with before beginning any repairs.
A common repair of T1-11 is repairing or replacing sections that were not nailed and sealed correctly when originally installed. Not nailing and sealing T1-11 correctly will cause the siding to curl at the bottom and/or the top of the siding sections and cup between the studs. (A note: if the T1-11 siding is stacked two sections high there should be a joining strip installed where the two pieces meet to keep moisture and water out of the joint. These joining strips can be bought at most lumber yards.)
Not nailing this product correctly occurs a lot more than necessary. The product needs to be nailed along the studs and at the top and bottom. If there is not a plate to at the top and bottom to nail to, install one or else the repaired or new siding will once again cup between the studs and curl at the top and bottom.
The curling that occurs at the top and bottom of installed T1-11 is usually caused because the siding was not sealed properly and moisture is causing the siding curl. If you catch the problem early you can repair the cupping and curling by re-nailing the existing siding at six inch intervals along the top and bottom. Check the top and bottom to make sure there is a plate in place, if not pull the siding and install one. After making the repair of the curling problem you must repaint or stain the exposed surfaces to keep the moisture out and protect the new or repaired siding from additional moisture damage.
Installing T1-11 correctly results in an inexpensive and handsome siding. If nailed correctly and sealed properly it should last 12 to 14 years before needing major repairs. If your T1-11 siding begins to show signs of curling or cupping it is important to get the siding repaired in a professional and timely manner to avoid a bigger problem down the road.
T1-11 occasionally develops splits in the siding. Most of these splits can be repaired with the proper caulk or fillers. These filler products must be applied and finished correctly, a bad job of filling or caulking actually looks worse than the crack, so have a professional do the repair correctly and repaint or stain the entire surface.
If the damage is so severe that a piece of the siding needs to be replaced, replace the entire sheet. A professional contractor can do this easily. Carefully pry up the adjoining sheets of siding and remove the damaged piece, taking care to remove all old nails so that the new piece can slide into place and be re-nailed. Don’t just paint or seal the replacement piece entire side of the building should be repainted or stained to maintain a consistent look.
